Archived Government Notes
Published in 2013
Permanent URLWhat the NSA can't do with your data (probably)
by Adam Mazmanian—Twitter: @thisismaz
The National Security Agency probably isn't spying on you. It's just measuring you for risk, according to two experts on the science of predictive analytics and data mining.
The NSA's Prism program, it has now been revealed, collects communications data from leading online commercial services and collects metadata and envelope information from mobile providers, including Verizon.
Neither of the experts has direct knowledge of classified intelligence work, but they do understand the capabilities, and limitations, of the data that the NSA is gathering. They believe that NSA uses the information to mine for connections between individuals and pick up whiffs of plots that might be directed at the U.S. homeland or its interests abroad. continued…
first published week of: 06/17/2013
Permanent URLWhich Four Countries Most Actively Hack the U.S.?
by tom simonite
An expert says U.S. intelligence believe four countries actively attack U.S. computers. But aside from China and Russia, who’s on the list?
As we and others have reported for years now, China is often accused of infiltrating the computer networks of U.S. companies and government departments. At the RSA security conference in San Francisco this week, one expert said that U.S. officials consider China just the most prolific on a shortlist of four countries most actively probing U.S. assets over the Internet.
Details Here
first published week of: 03/04/2013
Permanent URLWhite House talks privacy, surveillance with tech CEOs, Vint Cerf, and others
by cyrus farivar
The White House hosted a closed-door meeting with a number of tech luminaries and executives on Thursday to talk about privacy issues. Apple CEO Tim Cook, AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson, and Vint Cerf (the co-inventor of TCP/IP) were reported to be in attendance, according to Politico.
This was the second high-level meeting held this week between the Obama Administration, tech companies, and civil liberties groups—however this time, the president himself was apparently present. For now, everyone seems to be staying mum about what actually transpired.
“I am sure there are many curious minds, but this was off the record,” Cerf told Ars.
The move came the same day as two major US-based secure e-mail services shut down, Lavabit and Silent Circle. continued…
first published week of: 08/19/2013
Permanent URLWho closed out 2012 with the biggest federal contract awards?
Some big contracts nestled their way into the last month of 2012
by Mark Hoover
December was an active month for contracts as 2012 ended with more of a bang than a whimper. We saw a couple of big government contracts come down the pipeline, as well as saw a few good ol' IT contracts.
For the month of December, Washington Technology covered 20 contract awards.
Starting with No. 10, the countdown begins with:
Details Here
first published week of: 01/14/2013
Permanent URLWhy Most Governments Don’t Carry Cyber Insurance
by matt williams
Public-sector organizations are buying “cyber insurance” policies much less frequently than other major sectors of the U.S. economy, according to a new study released Wednesday, Aug. 7 by an independent data and security research firm.
The findings from the Ponemon Institute discovered that only 19 percent of survey respondents from government agencies said their organization has procured such a policy, which can help mitigate the financial risk associated with a cyberattack by covering expenses such as legal defense costs, computer forensics, breach notification and remediation, and credit monitoring services.
The public-sector vertical trails other sectors by at least 10 percentage points: Technology and software leads the way with a 41 percent adoption rate, followed by financial services (37 percent), services (36 percent); retail (29 percent) and health and pharmaceuticals (29 percent).
The survey of 638 risk management professionals was sponsored by Experian Data Breach Resolution, which counts several government agencies among its clients. continued…
first published week of: 08/12/2013
Permanent URLWilliams County maps with updated oil patch information generate about 8,400 online viewings
by associate press story
Williams County officials say that thousands of people have accessed the North Dakota county's interactive maps since they went online five months ago.
Figures show that the maps have been called up more than 8,400 times since July, when the county updated its Ersi software and the company began offering a free Geographical Information Systems, or GIS, viewer.
The Williston Herald reports (http://bit.ly/1bvp5uB ) that the maps show information on area parcels, zoning and subdivisions. The information is updated on a weekly basis with details generated from numerous county
first published week of: 12/02/2013
Permanent URLWired and Weird in Austin
by noelle knell
Called socially and culturally progressive for its impressive live music scene and vibrant mix of subcultures, Austin, Texas, is also making progress when it comes to technology. But the capital city, boasting a population of more than 800,000, is sometimes overshadowed by Houston, San Antonio and Dallas -- all larger in population and in stature.
In fact, digital security professional Lemuel Williams, who also serves as the volunteer Chair of Austin’s Technology and Telecommunications Commission, feels that on the national stage, Austin is still viewed by others as a "stepchild," operating in "catch-up" mode relative to technology. continued…
first published week of: 04/22/2013
Permanent URLYour Future Is Already Mapped Out
by kathryn david
“Success in GIS is putting actionable intelligence into the hands of the people that need it.”
-Keith Cooke, State Government Account Executive, Esri
Technology helps us make sense of constantly changing and complex data. One field where managing real-time developments in regulations and processing is essential is land management. GIS and mapping technology have the potential to revolutionize the land permitting and planning system, but only if we know how to use it.
That’s why GovLoop, Esri, and Accela came together to present a training on how to modernize plan submissions, zoning reviews, inspections and all of the complicated aspects of land management. The expert panel included:
- Keith Cooke, State Government Account Executive, Esri
- Roger Keren, Certified Planner and Solution Consultant, Accela
continued…
first published week of: 12/09/2013
♦ 